This last week my girls started preschool for the first time. They have spent their whole lives with myself being their primary caregiver and rarely being watched by someone who wasn’t a family member. I was nervous on how they would react to suddenly not having me around. When the big day rolled around, Nicole woke early with the flu. Nadia has never been one to deal well with change and has been the clingier of the two, so I was worried she would react badly to going to school without her sister. I sent her anyway.
She did better than I had expected! My Mom dropped her off at school while I stayed home with Nicole. After then initial fear of being “left” she settled down and did surprisingly well. When she came home she was so excited to tell me all that she had done and to make her lunch for the next day.
The next day Nicole was feeling much better (lucky kid only got sick for a day while us grownups spent the week sick) and went to school with her sister.
Nicole was also hesitant at first to go to school, but she quickly settled into the routine. After coming home, they both were anxious to tell me all about their day and to make their lunch for the next day. This lunch thing really excites them. Nadia was very upset on Friday when she didn’t get to make lunch for the next day and pouted on Saturday that she didn’t get to go to school.
Full-day preschool seemed at first to me like it may be too much for my almost 3 year olds, but they love it. They are already telling me things they learned and certain behaviors that were an issue before are starting to subside. Plus, the break it gives me is invaluable.
